Bengals free agency: 10 winners and 4 losers thus far

A look into the winners and losers of free agency.

It has been less than a week since free agency began, ushering in the 2025 NFL season. The Cincinnati Bengals have been busy assembling a team they hope can make a deep playoff run—and, ideally, bring the first Super Bowl title to the Queen City.

So far, they’ve retained some key players and added a few new faces, including locking down both of their star wide receivers.

Here’s a look at the Bengals’ biggest winners and losers in free agency so far.

Winners

Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

These were the two biggest names on the Bengals’ priority list. Chase, coming off a Triple Crown-winning season in 2024, was set to play on his fifth-year option. Higgins, widely regarded as the best WR2 in the NFL—and a WR1 on most other teams—had a decision to make about his future.

The Bengals made sure they stayed put. Chase signed a four-year, $161 million deal with $112 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, narrowly surpassing Myles Garrett. Higgins agreed to a four-year, $115 million contract—less than he could have commanded elsewhere but a move that keeps him on a contender instead of a rebuilding team like the Patriots.

The NFL’s best wide receiver duo is now locked in for another four years.

Joe Burrow

This one’s obvious. Burrow pushed hard for the Bengals to retain Chase, Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson. So far, he’s gotten two of the three.

Coming off an MVP-caliber season, Burrow now has the same core of weapons locked in for the foreseeable future. That continuity is huge, allowing him to focus on pushing the offense to new heights without needing to develop chemistry with a new primary target.

That said, while Burrow has his receivers, his protection remains a major concern — more on that later.

Mike Gesicki

It’s clear Burrow and Gesicki clicked last season, which made the Bengals’ decision to sign the talented receiving tight end to a three-year deal a no-brainer.

The tight end position has been a revolving door for Cincinnati in recent years. But with Gesicki—who emerged as the third most reliable target behind Chase and Higgins—sticking around, the Bengals hope to stabilize the position and add another dimension to the offense.

Cody Ford

With set starters at left tackle, center, and right tackle, the Bengals’ biggest offensive line concerns lie at guard. Neither Cordell Volson nor Alex Cappa performed well in pass protection in 2024, and the team has already released Cappa.

Despite many guards already being scooped up in free agency, the Bengals have yet to make a major move at the position. Their only addition so far is Ford, who played multiple backup roles last season and signed a two-year deal.

As things stand, Ford projects as the team’s starting right guard — but that’s far from ideal.

Cordell Volson

As mentioned, Volson struggled in 2024. It’s tough for a quarterback to step up in the pocket when both guards are allowing defensive tackles to collapse it from the inside.

Despite that, Burrow still put up monster numbers. While Volson could be a serviceable backup, the Bengals should be looking to upgrade the position either in free agency or the draft.

For now, though, he remains the starting left guard.

Joseph Ossai

When Sam Hubbard went down for the season—on what turned out to be his final NFL play (a touchdown, no less) — Ossai saw an increased role and delivered. He recorded a sack in five of the Bengals’ last seven games.

Cincinnati brought him back on a one-year deal, hoping he can continue that momentum. As of now, he’s penciled in as the starting edge rusher opposite Hendrickson.

BJ Hill

Hill was part of what should go down as the most lopsided trade in franchise history: the Bengals acquired him from the Giants for center Billy Price.

Cincinnati rewarded Hill this offseason with a three-year, $33 million contract. It’s a rare move for a front office that typically avoids committing long-term money to players entering their 30s — Hill turns 30 in April. But now, he’ll likely finish his career in Cincinnati.

The hope is he’ll help bring a championship to the franchise.

Geno Stone and Jordan Battle

The Bengals’ secondary struggled in 2024, in part due to injuries and in part due to inconsistent play from previously reliable players.

Stone provided a boost down the stretch, and the unit improved once Battle replaced Vonn Bell in the starting lineup. However, safety remains a position that could use an upgrade.

So far, the Bengals haven’t made any moves at the position in free agency and haven’t been linked to any available safeties. That could signal confidence in Stone and Battle as the starters moving forward.

Losers

Scott Peters

As mentioned earlier, Burrow has his receivers locked in — but his protection remains a glaring issue, and that’s bad news for new offensive line coach Scott Peters.

The Bengals have yet to make a meaningful move to upgrade at guard, a position that desperately needs reinforcements. With many top options already signed elsewhere, Cincinnati risks either overpaying for a mediocre veteran or reaching in the draft to fill the void.

Peters was tasked with helping fix a unit that’s annually been among the league’s worst offensive lines for what feels like an eternity. So far, he’s not been given much ammo to bring this unit out of the NFL’s cellar dwellers.

Trey Hendrickson

The last major extension Cincinnati needs to complete is Hendrickson’s.

The Bengals finished tied for 26th in sacks last season, and getting rid of the guy responsible for half of them is not the way to improve that number. Hendrickson has been instrumental to the defense, yet he remains underpaid and without an extension.

The Bengals need to lock him in for at least a couple more seasons with a deal that reflects his value — or risk losing their top pass rusher.

There’s been positive buzz that a deal could get done, but until the Bengals get this across the finish line, Hendrickson stays in the losers section.

Al Golden

The Bengals’ offense, provided they address the guard position, is in great shape. The defense? Not so much.

So far, Cincinnati’s defensive additions include linebacker Oren Burks and nose tackle TJ Slaton, along with retaining Hill, Ossai, Cam Sample, and a few others. But they’re set to lose Germaine Pratt, and they still need help at every level of the defense.

Golden doesn’t have the personnel to field a truly competitive unit right now. If the Bengals don’t make more moves soon, it’s going to be tough sledding for the defense in 2025.

The 2025 Bengals Season

Yes, the Bengals did a great thing by securing Chase and Higgins long-term. But beyond that, their offseason has left much to be desired.

Burks and Slaton are likely rotational players. Hendrickson remains unpaid and could be traded or sit out if an extension does not happen. The offensive line still lacks reliable guards. And overall, the roster, as it stands, looks like a worse version of the 9-8 team from 2024.

De facto GM Duke Tobin said he didn’t want to pay more money for the same team that went 9-8. But right now, that’s exactly what they’re doing — except they might be paying more for a less competitive roster.

Maybe Chase and Higgins were the first two big dominos to fall. But now that they have, there are no more excuses. The Bengals need to act fast to put this team in the best position to win.

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